Pawprints

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Nov. 15: PTA Dine Out - India’s Flavor

Nov. 16: Report Cards Go Home

Nov. 17: Minimum Day dismissal times: 1-3 @11:54, 4-6 @12:14,

K @12:20; Parent Conferences

Nov. 20-24: Thanksgiving Break

Dec 1: Spirit Assembly for November

GREEN TEAM - COMPOST SORTING HELP NEEDED

State law requires schools to go green and sort lunch waste. Beginning November 27, Monte Vista will be teaching our students how to sort our waste into four categories:

• Waste

• Recycling

• Off-site Composting

• On-site Composting

There will be an educational assembly on the morning of November 27 to teach students about the different categories and we will begin the process at lunchtime that day. Can you volunteer to help students learn the process of sorting their lunch waste that week? Volunteers will wear gloves and direct students where to throw each item. Volunteers will sign up to be at school from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Thank you for your help. Sign up here to help.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

They are currently working on hydroseeding the soccer field. Once they are finished, it will take about five weeks until the soccer field can be accessible.

ATTENDANCE

When emailing your child’s teacher the reason for your child’s absence, please remember to include Stephanie Allen on the email. Her email is sallen@gusd.net.

ANNUAL STUDENT COUNCIL FOOD DRIVE

The annual student council Food Drive with the La Canada Community Center will begin next week. Student Council members will be coming to the primary grade classrooms on Wednesday to give a short presentation about the food drive. We are accepting donations of dried foods and canned goods between November 6 and 16. Please donate if you are able.

READING INCENTIVE

Here are the links for this year’s reading incentives:

Primary Bingo Card

Upper Grade Bingo Card

CUB SCOUTS | NOVEMBER 15

Interested in joining Cub Scouts? Join Pack 302 on Wednesday, November 15th 7PM at the Monte Vista Elementary Auditorium to learn more about scouting and the fun adventures we have. All boys and girls grades K-5 are welcome! Flier

KOREAN DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION TOURS

If you know of families interested in our Korean DLI program, please encourage them to sign up for the tour. The tours are for new prospective families. Click here to sign up for the tour. The application for 2024-25 school year will be available on November 1, 2023. Please encourage those who may be interested in our Korean DLI program to sign up for the tour.

KOREAN DLI LOTTERY APPLICATION FOR 2024-25

Do you have a child who will be joining us at Monte Vista Korean DLI classes next year? How about a neighbor or friend who is excited about our Korean Dual Language Immersion program? Korean DLI online application becomes available on November 1st.

2024 KOREAN AMERICAN DAY PHOTO/VIDEO CONTEST

KECLA is holding the 2024 Korean American Day Art Contest to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Korean American history. Please encourage your child(ren) to participate in the art contest. Use the QR code in the flyer to apply!

GUSD FALL FOOD DRIVE | Donations through November 13th

GUSD PTAs are partnering together to provide meal baskets for families in need. Monte Vista is tasked with collecting Cookie/Brownie Dry Mix. Donations can be dropped off at the table across the front desk through Monday, November 13th.

DINE OUT | INDIA'S FLAVOR

Our next Dine Out is scheduled for Wednesday, November 15th at India’s Flavor! Dine-in, delivery, pick-up, or take-out are during 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM. They will donate 10% of ALL proceeds to our school. Can't make it? Don't worry. It will be an ONGOING, year-round fundraiser program! Write Monte Vista Elementary School PTA on India’s Flavor receipt (or type in the comment box for online orders).

MONTY'S HOLIDAY SHOP

Monty’s Holiday Shop is a special tradition at Monte Vista. Our elves work all year to put this event together for our students to shop for holiday gifts for their family and friends.

Monty’s Holiday Shop will be open Thursday, December 7 through Tuesday, December 12. We will also offer open shopping for all students on Tuesday, December 12 from 2:30 to 3:30.

In preparation for the kiddos to shop for gifts, we are asking for donations of grocery bags (paper or plastic). If you have any bags around the house, please consider dropping them off to the bin near the front office for use during the Holiday Shop starting November 13th.

Thank you!

- Monty’s Holiday Shop Committee

DEI UPDATE

Diwali (also called Divali or Deepavali) is a “festival of lights” that celebrates the triumph of light over dark, good over evil, and the blessings of victory, freedom, and enlightenment. The name comes from Sanskrit dipavali, meaning “row of lights.” On the night of Diwali, celebrants light dozens of candles and clay lamps (called diyas), placing them throughout their homes and in the streets to light up the dark night.

Followers of the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain faiths primarily celebrate Diwali. However, the holiday is celebrated throughout India, Singapore, and several other South Asian countries as a national holiday, meaning that people outside these religions may participate in Diwali celebrations, too. Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and elsewhere around the globe also regularly celebrate Diwali.

Diwali occurs annually in autumn (or spring, in the southern hemisphere) during the Hindu month of Kartik. (In Western terms, Kartik begins around mid-October and ends in mid-November.) Specifically, Diwali occurs on the darkest day of the lunar month, which is the day of the new Moon.

Links:

https://www.almanac.com/content/diwali

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/diwali

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Diwali-Hindu-festival

National Native American Heritage Month | November

Native American Heritage Month is observed in November to call attention to the culture, traditions, and achievements of the nation’s original inhabitants and of their descendants.

In 1990 Congress passed and President George H. W. Bush signed into law a joint resolution designating the month of November as the first National American Indian Heritage Month (also known as Native American Indian Month). “American Indians were the original inhabitants of the lands that now constitute the United States of America,” noted H.J. Res. 577. “Native American Indians have made an essential and unique contribution to our Nation” and "to the world." Introduced by Hawaii senator Daniel Inouye and congressional delegate Eni Faloemavaega of American Samoa, the joint resolution stated that “the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon Federal, State, and local governments, interested groups and organizations, and the people of the United States to observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.” In 2008 the commemorative language was amended to also include the contributions of Alaskan Natives. Every year, by statute and/or presidential proclamation, the month of November is recognized as National Native American Heritage Month.

Links:

https://www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov

White House

US Courts

PBS

Senate.gov

GROCERY & LABEL REWARD PROGRAMS

Did you know that our PTA can earn money when you grocery shop at Ralphs? Learn more HERE.

~ Emily Geller, Grocery & Label Programs Chair

MONTE VISTA PTA INSTAGRAM

Follow our PTA on Instagram @monte_vista_pta and get updates on what is happening with our PTA in real time! #instagram #pta #weloveMV

Monte Vista Elementary serves students in grades K-6. We are a National Blue Ribbon School offering one of GUSD's DLI programs in Korean. Recently, Monte Vista has been selected as a 2022 California Pivotal Practice (CAPP) Award Program winner!

Website: https://www.gusd.net/montevista
Location: 2620 Orange Avenue, La Crescenta, CA, 91214
Phone: (818) 248-2617
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montevistagusd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montevistagusd